Rafael Nadal's watch cost more than most homes

Feb. 18, 2013
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Nadal's $690,000 watch. / Richard Mille

by Chris Chase, USA TODAY Sports

by Chris Chase, USA TODAY Sports

Rafael Nadal earned $82,300 by winning the title at the Brasil Open, his first tournament title since returning from a knee injury earlier this year. That would barely be enough to cover the price of the second hand on his new Richard Mille watch.

Nadal had been wearing a $525,000 Richard Mille watch for the past two years to varying degrees of luck. It's been on his wrist for on-court successes, but had a mixed history off the court. He once left it in a locker room. Another time it was stolen (and recovered).

This watch is a newer version called the RM 27-01. It's one-gram lighter than its predecessor and boasts a new system of suspension screws that protect its delicateness while Nadal recklessly storms around the court. The RM 27-01 can also withstand 5000 Gs of force, which is good if Rafa ever plays a match in the back of Maverick and Goose's fighter jet.

And what nicer way to showcase the titanium screws, carbon nanotubes, tourbillion movement and delicate Swiss craftsmanship than with a fancy band. This Richard Mille features one made of, uh, velcro?

Velcro? Apparently Nadal's watch, which costs more than most homes, is held on by the same material your kindergartner has on his Cars sneakers.

That's to cut down on the weight of the watch. The RM 27-01 weighs just 19 grams. Put four nickels on your wrist. The Richard Mille watch is even lighter than that. The watch can look bulky on Rafa's wrist, but he probably can't feel it.

Once your done testing with those four nickels, go find 13,799,996 more and, boom, you can buy the RM-27-01 and look like Rafael Nadal, minus the clay-caked shoes and rippling biceps, that is. Oh, and you better hurry. They're only making 50.